Lesbian star Mauresmo to play in Wimbledon final

By Katherine Knowles • July 6, 2006 - 0:00

Finally into a Wimbledon final!

2 Comments on Lesbian star Mauresmo to play in Wimbledon final

Amelie Mauresmo has made it to her first Wimbledon final, breaking her two year jinx of being knocked out in the semis.

The French tennis star said that she was "very happy" to be through to Saturday's match against Justine Henin - Hardenne, after a hard fought contest against the Russian number 4, Maria Sharapova.

Mauresmo won the match 6-3 3-6 6-2, with a score that resembled her last (unsuccessful) attempt when she was beaten in the semi final by Lindsey Davenport.

"It was a tight second set", Mauresmo told the BBC, "I was just thinking about getting into the final".

Ms Mauresmo came out in 1999, after she won the Australian Open. The 19 year old jumped into the arms of her lover, 31 year old night club owner Silvie Bourdon, and attributed her success to coming to terms with her sexuality and finding love.

Since coming out, Ms Mauresmo has had to deal with some criticism. Martina Hingis called her "half man", and Lindsey Davenport claimed that she played like a man. Ms Mauresmo dismissed these comments at the time as "a little stupid", and went on to beat both of these players in major competitions.

Now through to her first Wimbledon final, it's clear that she hasn't been letting this gossip affect her game.

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